hammer and tongs

adverb

1. with great vigor, determination, or vehemence.

   When he starts a job he goes at it hammer and tongs.

   Synonyms: wholeheartedly, fiercely, energetically, hard

Word History and Origins

Origin of hammer and tongs¹

First recorded in 1700–10

Idioms and Phrases

Forcefully, with great vigor. For example, She went at the weeds hammer and tongs, determined to clean out the long neglected flowerbed. Often put as go at it hammer and tongs, this phrase alludes to the blacksmith's tools. [c. 1700]

Example Sentences

He said that while his Labour and Conservative opponents would be going "hammer and tongs to discredit each other" he would be going "hammer and tongs" for Scotland.

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And in 2021, F1 had one of its greatest-ever seasons with Mercedes and Red Bull going at it hammer and tongs with Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.

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If Charlie hadn’t stepped in, we’d probably still have been at it hammer and tongs today.

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"It was 24 guys going hammer and tongs at it, but then having a beer together afterwards."

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“If you are a Republican conservative Trump supporter, then you might as well hang it up because they are going to come after you hammer and tongs,” he said.

Read more on New York Times